Smile Like You Mean It (One)

Chapter Sixteen

The next day at school, Sal and Bryony walked in together, coming to find Bessy, Beth, and Rachel sat at their usual table in the canteen. They studied the couple, as they took a seat opposite, with their cheeks flushing a bright red.

"T-Thank you." Sal announced, as the girls furrowed their eyebrows at him.

"What for, Sal?" Beth asked, as Sal looked around the group.

"For being there for Bryony yesterday." He answered, feeling Bryony squeeze his hand supportively. A small smile pulled at his lips, as the memory of the evening prior replayed in his head. "I'm going to be a dad."

He spoke aloud, still in disbelief at the sudden change in his life. Sal turned to look at Bryony, leaning in to kiss at her cheek, feeling the heat rise to her skin as he did so. His eyebrows soon arched, as he glanced up at the three girls sat opposite him. "You didn't tell the guys did you?"

"No, no..." Rachel shook her head. "It's not our place to spread your happy news."

Sal nodded his head, his smile soon returning to his face, as he felt Bryony rest her head upon his shoulder. He looked around the hall for his friends, seeing them nowhere in sight.

"Where even are they?"

"Brian offered to let Joe and James have a test drive in his car before class starts." Bessy responded simply.

"We need to tell them." Bryony spoke up, as Sal turned to her.

"We will...do you think you girls could give us some time at lunch to tell them privately?" Sal asked them, retrieving a nod of the head from them all.

"Of course." Rachel smiled.

"Thank you."

**

As lunchtime came about, Sal walked into the canteen, seeing the rest of his group of friends sat around the table. He could see Bryony laughing along with them, his heart warming to the sight. As long as she was happy, so was he. Sal took a seat, just as all four girls stood to their feet.

"We'll be right back." Beth announced, as they strolled away from the table, leaving the four boys sat there.

Sal could feel his heartrate begin to increase, as he swallowed hard, the nerves overwhelming his system. James took notice, as he placed a hand to his shoulder in comfort, gaining the attention of Brian and Joe.

"Sal, are you okay?" James asked sincerely, as Sal shook his head.

"I-I have news." Sal choked, as the three boys focused on him, leaning in so that they could hear him, with his voice so weak and timid.

"Good or bad?" Joe questioned, gaining a shrug of the shoulders from the boy.

"Depends how you look at it." Sal swallowed. "You know how I was talking about that night between Bryony and I?"

"Yeah..." Brian furrowed his eyebrows, perplexed, before it hit him. His eyes grew wide, as his jaw dropped. "Is she-?"

"Yes." Sal sighed. "Bryony's pregnant."

"Well shit..." Brian winced, as Sal glared at him. Brian stammered, as he let out a nervous laugh. "I didn't mean it like that."

"Then what did you mean by it?" Sal spat, his voice now angered.

"I think Brian just meant that it's a lot to take in." Joe answered for him, shooting a look at the boy. "Right, Brian?"

"Right." He nodded.

"Do your parents know?" James queried, as Sal shook his head, sighing deeply.

"Not yet...they're going to kill us."